Pike courthouse addition bids opened

DAVID HULSE
Posted 8/21/12

MILFORD, PA — After years of planning, picketing and permitting, an addition to the Pike County Courthouse came a big step closer to reality on March 23, when contractors’ construction bids were …

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Pike courthouse addition bids opened

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MILFORD, PA — After years of planning, picketing and permitting, an addition to the Pike County Courthouse came a big step closer to reality on March 23, when contractors’ construction bids were opened at the county commissioners meeting.

A total of 18 bids were opened. “I wonder if there was this much interest [when the existing courthouse was built] in 1872,” said commissioners’ chair and resident historian Matt Osterberg.

Zitone Construction of Montague, NJ, bidding for general construction work, was the closest to a local bidder with an apparent low bid, at $5.91 million.

Project architect Mike Lamereaux of McGoey-Hauser-Edsall Engineers will review the bids, and he noted that the apparent low bids came from Bognet Inc. of Hazelton at $546,789 for plumbing, Troy Mechanical of Moosic at $628,000 for mechanical, and Joyce Electric of Eynon at $800,600 for electrical.

Further action on the bids was tabled until April 6.

No dates for groundbreaking or construction were announced, but preparations have already begun. The commissioners authorized payment of $9,026.64 for rent and efforts in “moving 200 years of records from the Buckley Building,” Osterberg said.

Historian Osterberg noted that 144 years ago, the existing courthouse cost $40,000 to build, compared to the combined $7,784,889 in new bids. The historic former jail across High Street from the courthouse was built in 1815 and also served as Pike’s first courthouse.

Acid rock disposal

In other business, the commissioners executed a settlement statement regarding Blooming Grove Township’s right-of-way claim with PennDOT, along with an agreement of sale, deed and temporary construction easement.

Social media comments have expressed concerns about PennDOT plans to dump toxic highway construction waste in the township.

Osterberg noted the concern and said the waste is pyrite, known as “acid rock,” which he said is common and a “huge problem,” in the western part of the state.

Pyrite is said to be harmless in the earth, but upon exposure to surface elements, it deteriorates, producing hydrochloric acid.

Commissioner Rich Caridi, a Blooming Grove resident, said that while the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has issued a permit, the township and the commissioners have contacted Sen. Lisa Baker and asked that PennDOT cease excavation on the property until engineers do an analysis for mitigation and monitoring.

The Pike County Conservation District also has to review the project, Caridi said. He spoke of sealing the material with a membrane. “We’re taking a second look,” he said.

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